Dog Beach Festival Debuts in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — The first edition of the "Dog Beach Festival" was held this Saturday, characterized by a family-friendly atmosphere that celebrated pet-friendly culture and brought together hundreds of people accompanied by their pets.

The festival was promoted by the Secretariats of Tourism and Economic Development and organized by the "Dog Beach" collective at Plaza 28 de Julio. Activities ran from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., featuring services, products, and contests.

Representing the municipal president, the Honorary President of the DIF, Eduardo Asencio, highlighted that this festival reflects one of the most important values of Playa del Carmen: the warmth and love of its community for animals. "It is a space where entire families, including their pets, can enjoy, learn, and share an experience that strengthens social unity and positions our municipality as an inclusive, responsible tourist destination committed to life in all its forms," he stated.

For her part, the Secretary of Tourism, Estefanía Hernández, emphasized that for the municipal president and the government she leads, animal welfare and the fight against animal abuse are priorities. She also highlighted that, given the global growth of pet tourism—which is increasing by 9% annually—Playa del Carmen has a great opportunity to position itself as a leader in pet-friendly tourism.

During the event, Estefanía Hernández officially presented the Pet Friendly Route, a project that seeks to consolidate Playa del Carmen as a pioneering destination in animalist inclusion by integrating entrepreneurs, hotels, restaurants, businesses, and service providers into a sustainable and inclusive ecosystem. This route includes spaces such as Francesca Catalina, Somos Crisol, Playa 72, Parque Fundadores, and 5th Avenue, among others.

Finally, Sergio Beristain, general director of the "Dog Beach" collective, thanked the municipal government for its support and expressed his enthusiasm for organizing future editions of the festival.

The "Dog Beach Festival" reaffirms Playa del Carmen's commitment to building a more humane, inclusive city that is conscious of the value of all forms of life.